Aduragbemi Omiyale
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
There are plans to add more schools to the Re-imagine Education program of Airtel Nigeria and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Nigeria.
In December 2022, both organisations launched the initiative to transform education, leveraging the power of technology to enhance teaching and learning experiences for children across the country.
With a shared vision of empowering children through education, Airtel and UNICEF have been working together to provide innovative solutions that bridge the digital divide and create equal opportunities for all children.
The two parties have promised to continue to work hand in hand to expand the program’s reach, bringing the benefits of technology-enabled education to more schools and communities across the country.
About 620 schools were chosen for the programme, but there are plans to add additional schools to the list of beneficiaries in Nigeria.
Speaking on the progress rate of the scheme, the chief executive of Airtel Africa Plc, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, said he was impressed with the positive impact achieved already.
“As a business, we have focused on education as a key area of our Corporate Social Responsibility, and this far-reaching partnership with UNICEF helps us to accelerate results.
“So far, we are pleased that this partnership which is aimed at advancing the education agenda on the continent through facilitating connectivity and online access, is also driving change,” Mr Ogunsanya said when both companies visited Oremeji Primary School, Ajegunle, Lagos, as part of the activities to assess the impact of the program on the learning outcomes of the students.
Also, the chief executive of Airtel Nigeria, Mr Carl Cruz, noted that, “Our commitment is the reason we have come as a full team, to pay a visit and be well acquainted with how much this project has impacted both the teachers and students of Oremeji Primary School and we are delighted to see the tangible impact of the Re-imagine Education program.
“At Airtel, education, especially digital learning, forms a significant part of our sustainability agenda for Nigeria and Africa at large and we will stop at nothing to bridge the huge digital gap that currently exists in many primary schools across the country.”
Also speaking at the event, UNICEF Chief of Lagos Field Office, Ms Celine Lafoucriere, emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts to reimagine education.
“We are happy to join hands with Airtel in improving the digital learning landscape to create a brighter future for children and young people in Nigeria.
“We believe every child deserves an equal opportunity to learn and thrive; we will continue working together to provide innovative solutions that empower children to fulfil their potential,” Ms Lafoucriere said.
